A look back at 2023 in Morongo Basin theater

By
Charlie Thomas
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2023 saw an ever-widening variety of live productions in our Morongo Basin.

Theatre 29 brought “Peter & the Star Catcher”, “My Son Pinocchio”, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Disney’s Frozen Kids & Jr” versions with their summer youth program, Roald Dahl’s “The Witches” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” encapsulating a busy year.

The community theatre captured 18 Desert Star Awards nominations for their 2022-23 season, with one win for Larissa Rodney for the previous season’s summer program, “Disney’s Moana Jr.” Groves Cabin Theatre in Morongo Valley bade a bittersweet farewell to area audiences after an almost 40-year history.

Their finale production, “The Death of Bessie Smith” garnered 10 Desert Star Award nominations, netting their final DTL nod for Kevin Hayles as Outstanding Lead Performer – One Act. Thought Theatre produced “True West” in October.

They also received 7 Desert Star Award nominations.

Theatre is alive and well in our basin and the best is yet to come.

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Charlie Thomas
Charlie Thomas
Charlie Thomas is a local theatrical director, actor, producer, stage designer and playwright with over thirty-five years’ experience in both professional and non-professional live theatre, film, television, and radio. His pedigree includes most of the major theatrical companies in the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin including Theatre 29, Hi-Desert Playhouse, Groves Cabin Theatre, Palm Canyon Theatre and College of the Desert, to name a very few. Charlie is an active member of the greater desert performing arts scene. He currently serves as Vice-President on the Theatre 29 board of directors. He also serves on the board of the Desert Theatre League, a live performance support organization that provides judging and awards for theatrical and dance excellence for over 39 organizations. He is also a founding panelist of the Alliance of Desert Theatres which formed during the COVID-19 pandemic to network with performing arts houses all over the desert for support and networking while the industry was shutdown. During his theatrical career, Charlie has won many Desert Theatre League performance awards as well as their “Sidney Harmon” award which recognizes honorees for exhibiting theatrical excellence. Charlie Thomas joined Z107.7 in April 2020 and has greatly come to enjoy the everchanging scope of the work. He has also enjoyed the opportunity to share his breadth of knowledge and experience as Z107.7’s Entertainment Reporter. He is grateful to be able to share news stories about the wide variety of arts our beautiful basin has to offer.

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